The New Pivot Table Feature In Numbers

The latest version of Mac Numbers adds a new Pivot Table feature. You can now quickly and easily create pivot tables based on the data of another table. Use pivot tables to visualize information in different ways.

Comments: 30 Responses to “The New Pivot Table Feature In Numbers”

    Jasper
    2 years ago

    Do you know if there is a way to save a Pivot Table as a kind of template to apply to new files? I'm currently batch processing.

    All I can think of is: 1. duplicate the first Numbers file that contains the set-up Pivot Table; 2. Paste in the next data set; 3. Refresh the Pivot Table; 4. Save with a new, appropriate name.

    If you've any more elegant ideas, I'm all ears!

    2 years ago

    Jasper: Just create a normal template like you would in any other situation. File, Save as Template.

    Jane
    2 years ago

    Thank you and this is very useful, just in time for me business wise.

    JC Blanchard
    2 years ago

    Very powerful tool and very well explained. Thank you!

    Kent
    2 years ago

    thank you. very useful!

    Ian
    2 years ago

    Hi, Gary, I'd be interested to know if you are aware of a real reason why Apple have excluded Catalina from this upgrade? My Late 2012 iMac is perfectly cable of using Pivot Tables on some very large datasets in Excel so why not in Numbers?

    2 years ago

    Ian: I don't know. But I can guess that there are other features, perhaps from other recent updates, that require Big Sur or newer so you can't upgrade to the latest version.

    Ian
    2 years ago

    Gary, thank you. I guess, it just seems odd that I can run 11.1 but not 11.2, I might have a bit more accepting had it been more of a major release. I now just need Apple to release the new larger iMac :-)

    Ray Johnston
    2 years ago

    Hi, Gary. I, too, was excited to see the Pivot table addition to Numbers, and sad to see that it was not accessible via Numbers 11.1 on my old iMac running Catalina 10.15.7 . Maybe later, or when I finally spring for the new iMac.

    It seems like creating a Pivot table is a "once and done" operation. I haven't found an easy way to modify the Pivot table on my iPhone until I get what I want. Am I missing something? My memory isn't as good as it used to be...

    2 years ago

    Ray: Not sure what you are looking for in terms of modifying the pivot table. But I show lots of ways to modify them in this video.

    Keith Flanagan
    2 years ago

    Have you tried pivot charts?

    Ray
    2 years ago

    When you begin work, creating a Pivot table, a dialog opens that lets you move features around, then you open the table you've created. Is there a way to get back to that original dialog without starting over?

    Ray
    2 years ago

    My iPhone version doesn't show all the menus and features on the same Sheet as the Pivot result like it does on your Mac, Gary. Its an iPhone 11 running IOS 15.0. Hmmm, thought I updated that... Now it says 15.0.1 is available, with a few bug fixes. Installing the update now. I apologize if this was the problem. I really enjoy your demos!!!

    Ray
    2 years ago

    OK, that helps, a lot. On my iPad can display the Pivot selection option to the side of the Pivot table, and move items around. The exact movements are not quite the same, but they work. Thanks, Gary

    Gene
    2 years ago

    Great video. It appears that the pivot table functions in Numbers is more intuitive than it is (was) in Excel although it's been a long time since I worked in Excel. Thanks for a professionally done video that is incredibly instructive!

    David
    2 years ago

    Is it possible to filter a pivot table equal to the value of a cell in a different table?

    2 years ago

    David: Not sure what you mean, but try it and see.

    David
    2 years ago

    I would like to be able to type a name in a one cell table and have my pivot table filter on that cell. I’ve been trying with no success so far.

    David
    2 years ago

    Example: Dear (name) your contributions last year ……. and show pivot table that is filtered on (name).

    2 years ago

    David: Just use the filter function that is already there. In the right sidebar you'll see the Filter section. Use that.

    David
    2 years ago

    I was hoping to be able to setup the filter function to use the (name) in the one cell table to filter on. It appears that is not possible.

    GJ
    2 years ago

    Hi Gary, Is it possible in numbers to create a pivot for multiple tables or sheets containing same dataset i.e. the headers are identical? like in MS Excel you can create multiple sheets into one database by using power query and create a Pivot for that dataset.
    In other words is it possible to combine the data from multiple tables or sheets, with identical header and then create a Pivot in Numbers.

    2 years ago

    GJ: No. But if the headers are identical, then why are they in separate tables? Combine them into one table and then you can do pivots and other things with the data.

    GJ
    2 years ago

    Thanks Gary. Yes currently table needs to be combined into 1, but in some scenarios the data is received from multiple sources. The data is same with identical headers, however they are not in the same position, they are scattered and since the source of data is a third party, you end up organising (preprocessing) it into a single table first and then do the pivoting, Whereas in MS Excel, there is this wonderful feature of power query, that can be used to perform this pre processing.

    GJ
    2 years ago

    Do you think if Numbers is going to get this feature anytime in future ?

    Thanks.

    2 years ago

    GJ: I doubt it. I would work to combine the tables first, then create the Pivot table and do other things with the data.

    Angela
    2 years ago

    Hi Gary, can you have other values like text in the pivot tables in Numbers?

    2 years ago

    Angela: As the labels, sure. Not sure how text would work.

    Kevin
    2 years ago

    Hi Gary, great video thanks! One question I can't seem to figure out after googling is if there's any ability to update the pivot table via script? I've already got a working automator script that updates a bunch of cells with some data scraped via the web, and was hoping I could add a call in that script to trigger a pivot table to update itself, rather than having to do so interactively? Really helps out the more you scale out and create a bunch of pivot tables!

    2 years ago

    Kevin: No script will do that as far as I can tell. Just click the button. Your Automator script needs to be triggered anyway, so now you just have one more click.

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